Buddhist Tradition, Essay Example

The idea of Dependent Arising or Dependant Origination can be regarded as the fundamental viewpoint of Buddhism. It articulates the subject matter of the Buddha’s enlightenment experience. In fact, it is an idea in terms of which the ultimate beliefs of the Buddha can be clarified. “In describing his own quest for enlightenment, the Buddha says that immediately before his enlightenment, when he was sitting in meditation he began enquiring into the chain of conditioning, seeking the causal origination of suffering, and this inquiry led him to the discovery of dependent arising” (Bodhi). According to Buddha, comprehension of the dependent arising of things and matter allows an individual to search for an explanation to what Buddhism believes to be the main problem of life, which is the problem of everlasting pain.

However, most of the world’s main religions disagree with this doctrine and state that there is an eternal, transcendent and supreme Reality away from the appearances of a transforming world. In Christianity this ultimate reality is represented by God who has no beginning and exist without possessing an origin in an elemental impersonal essence. In Islam, the ultimate reality is represented by Allah, an eternal being, magnificent and almighty. “Indeed, the impersonal Brahman of the Upanishads, who balances between his manifested state and unmanifestation, or the lack of any transcendental being, as stated by Theravada Buddhism, are positions that cannot be reconciled with the personal God of the monotheistic religions” (Valea).

In my opinion, the idea of a personal and loving God, being a representation of an eternal and unchanging Ultimate Reality is much stronger than the doctrine of dependant rising. Moreover, it gives an actual reason and motivation to be born, live, and die.

Works Cited

Valea, Ernest. The Ultimate Reality in world religions. 15 Sept. 2009. 10 May 2009. <http://www.comparativereligion.com/god.html#09>

Bodhi, Bhikkhu. Dependant Arising. 10 May 2009. <http://www.beyondthenet.net/dhamma/dependArising.htm>